Eid-el-Kabir, beyond slaughtering of rams –Aregbesola

The Governor of Osun State, Ogbeni Rauf Aregbesola yesterday admonished Muslims to see Eid-El-Kabir beyond slaughtering of rams but use the festive period to reflect on attitudes that may cast aspersions on Islam as a religion.

The Governor, who spoke shortly after observing the two-rakat prayer at the Oke Bale Eid Praying Ground in Osogbo called for tolerance and piety among various religious groups in the state and the country at large.

Aregbesola held that Islam is a religion that preaches peace, tolerance, love, brotherliness and honesty, and that the faith abhors violence, crisis and killings.

According to him, “as we slaughter rams in remembrance of obedience of Prophet Ibrahim to Allah, let bad behaviours and manners be slaughtered.

“Allah does not need blood nor does he want to eat meat, but as Muslims we should be good and exemplary examples to others always, the lesson of total obedience to the commandments of God which the season preaches is what should be our guiding principle always.” Governor Aregbesola told the gathering.

Earlier, the Naib-l-Imam Alhaji Musa Animasahun who represented the Chief Imam of Osogbo and President, League of Imams and Alfas in the South-West, Edo and Delta states appealed to those at the helms of affairs to fulfil promises between them and the people as exemplified by Prophet Ibrahim.

Alhaji Animashaun urged the Muslims at the Eid praying ground to fear God and His commandments, adding that the congregation and other Muslims in Nigeria should always pray for leaders and the people at the helms of affairs.

He asked Nigerians to see this period as an opportunity to “renew our spiritual commitment as we continue to fear God in all that we do, and always offer prayers for government at all levels.”

Dignitaries at the Oke Baale Eid praying ground included the wife of the State governor, Alhaja Sherifat Aregbesola;the Ataoja of Osogbo, Oba Jimoh Oyetunji Olanipekun; the Asiwaju Musulumi of Yorubaland, Khamis Olatunde Badmus,Islamic scholars, members of the state Executive Council and political leaders of the Action Congress of Nigeria and many others.